A Texas Master Naturalist is a volunteer with a desire to give back to the community and a willingness to attend the training.

You must complete a 40-hour course on the region’s natural features and the impact that people have on nature. Training is held in the fall of each year and classes average 25-30 students. The course includes presentations by biologists, geologists, naturalists, and others from local, state, and federal agencies and universities.

In addition, you must complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours of advanced training during the first 12 months following completion of the course (before your course graduation anniversary date). Advanced training enables Texas Master Naturalists to learn additional knowledge or a particular skill in order to assist with different volunteer projects. Advanced training activities have involved hands-on instruction, field trips to local natural areas, and lectures on such topics as: Texas bats, Texas insects, Texas aquatic environments, wildscape development, and trail planning.

All your volunteer and advanced training activities must be reported and approved for you to get credit. Once you meet these requirements, you will receive a dragonfly pin and will be a certified Texas Master Naturalist.

You would volunteer for projects such as construction and maintenance of interpretive trails; restoration of stream banks, exotic species control; fish, wildlife and plant inventories; songbird nest box trails; natural resource youth camps; school programs; programs to community groups; landowner consultation; outdoor skill instruction; natural resource interpretation at nature and visitor centers; creating and maintaining naturescaping demonstration areas; and more.

Once you are certified, it is your responsibility to maintain your certification. You are expected to stay active in the chapter and attend meetings, take advantage of advanced training opportunities, and keep accurate records of your service hours. As a volunteer, you may not profit from your status or violate the policies, missions and goals of the sponsoring agencies that govern use of the Master Naturalist title.

Our meetings are generally held on the fourth Monday of the month at 7:00pm at Riverside Nature Center in Kerrville. Occasionally a meeting may be held at a different location, so be sure to check the web site or the current month's newsletter for details.

The Texas Master Naturalist program is a partnership of the Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and local partners in each community.

This is a self-supporting program. Volunteers are expected to cover the cost of their training. Our chapter is supported by training fees, fund raisers, and donations (money or in-kind services such as free meeting space) from local partners. A portion of the training fees is also used to support statewide administration of the program. Our training fees are recommended by the New Class Committee and take into account the state fees.